By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CENTRALIA – The Centralia police officer involved in yesterday’s pursuit that led to shots fired in a north end neighborhood has been identified as Officer Michael Lowrey.
Lowrey, an 11-year veteran of the department, will be on administrative leave, as is standard procedure, pending the results of a review of the incident, according to the Centralia Police Department.
Images of a late model pickup ramming a Centralia patrol car Thursday afternoon are captured on a neighbor's surveillance camera.
Lowrey fired at least two shots at a suspect who police say rammed his patrol car twice during a chase that began on Kresky Avenue and ended in a residential area at the north end of town.
Nobody was hit by any bullet but one round struck the stolen late model Ford pickup truck being driven by a 32-year-old SeaTac man, according to Officer John Panco.
Panco said a resident of the area handed over a video of the ramming and shooting that took place on Euclid at Third street around 5 p.m. yesterday. The pursuit continued over railroad tracks and ended about a block later when the suspect bailed out of the truck and fled on foot.
Centralia Police Officer Michael Lowrey is shown as he fires at a pickup truck driving away after it rammed Lowrey's patrol car.
Joshua A. Fitchhorn, 32, was arrested shortly afterward on the other side of the Skookumchuck River in Rotary Riverside Park. He was checked out at the hospital because he was scratched up from the brush, according to Panco.
Lowrey sustained a minor injury to his head – complaining of a headache – from the ramming, Panco said. He too was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital and was released last night.
It began about 4:20 p.m. when Fitchhorn allegedly stole the truck from Burkett’s Auto Sales on the 1100 block of South Gold Street. Lowrey spotted the pickup on Kresky and a chase ensued. A second Centralia police officer joined the pursuit just after the suspect rammed Lowrey’s patrol car, Panco said.
Panco said the front of the patrol car sustained some damage and the front of the pickup got minor damage.
Fitchhorn was booked into the Lewis County Jail for first-degree assault and possession of stolen property. He is expected to go before a judge this afternoon.
The last time a Centralia officer shot at a suspect was in January during a robbery at the TwinStar Credit Union, Panco said.
Other than that, it was “before my time and I’ve been here 21 years,” Panco said.
Today, Lowrey is on medical leave and after he is cleared medically, he will be placed on administrative leave, according to Panco.
After the criminal investigation is concluded, an outside agency will conduct an administrative review of the incident, Panco said.
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See photos and read yesterday’s story: Patrol car rammed; officer fires weapon during police pursuit in Centralia
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kirotv.com this afternoon posted the uncut video of the driver of the truck seen ramming the Centralia police car and the officer getting out and firing at the truck.
KING5.com has posted a portion of the video along with its today’s newscast about the incident.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter